Clair Obscur Triumphs at the 2025's Gaming Honors
The 43rd yearly Golden Joystick Awards were hosted recently, and through an impressive show, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 emerged as the most decorated winner. This surprise role-playing game from Sandfall Interactive secured the coveted Ultimate Game of the Year award, along with honors for Best Storytelling and Top Visual Design.
Complementing the studio's triumph, the skilled actors also received individual awards. Jennifer English received Best Lead Performer for her performance as Maelle, while Ben Starr won Supporting Performance Award for his acting as Verso. Moreover, Sandfall Interactive the studio was named Best Development Team. Overall, Clair Obscur and its creative team won 7 awards throughout the event.
Additional standout winners featured Ghost of Yōtei, which won Top Sound Design and Top Console Title, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, honored with Outstanding Independent Game and Premier PC Title. Notably, the lion's share of Golden Joystick Awards are voted on by the gamers, with only four awards—Critics Choice, Rising Star, Hall of Fame, and Streamers' Favorite—determined by critics.
Following is the full list of award recipients from the 2025 gaming awards:
- Outstanding Narrative – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Top Audio – Ghost of Yōtei
- Best Multiplayer – Peak
- Best Visual Design – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Top DLC – Lies of P: Overture
- Best Self-Published Indie – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Top Indie Title – Blue Prince
- Studio of the Year – Sandfall Interactive
- Best Early Access Game – REPO
- Top Score – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Best Trailer – Grand Theft Auto 6 Trailer 2
- Mobile Game Still Played – Pokémon Go
- Console/PC Game Still Played – Minecraft
- Streamer Favorite – Peak
- Best Remake / Remaster – The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
- Rising Star Award – Schedule I
- Best Gaming Hardware – AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
- Best Game Adaptation – Arcane Season 2
- Best Supporting Actor – Ben Starr, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Lead Performance Award – Jennifer English, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Hall of Fame – The Sims
- PC Game of the Year – Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Console Game of the Year – Ghost of Yōtei
- Critics Pick – Donkey Kong Bananza
- Most Wanted Title – Grand Theft Auto 6
- Ultimate Game – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
For those who missed the live ceremony, the Golden Joystick Awards 2025 can be watched online here.
